Field Trips/Other Activities

Conference participants will have several opportunities after the scientific sessions to explore the old town of Dubrovnik. In addition, the conference organizers will host activities, as described below, to help you make the best of your experience in Dubrovnik. Some of the activities require a fee which will be listed on the registration site. Exact start and end times of each activity will be provided in the final program. Make sure to visit the Location” Page for a brief introduction to the city of Dubrovnik.

Sunday, 22 May

A 2-hour guided optional walking tour (2:00 P.M. – 4 P.M.) before the Welcome Reception is being organized. An expert guide will lead guests through the narrow streets of the Old City introducing the history and culture of this magnificent town. The Old City is a World Heritage Site and a masterpiece of medieval architecture. The tour starts and ends at the conference hotel (Rixos Hotel), allowing time for participants to attend the Welcome Reception.

The Welcome Reception will be held on the restaurant balcony of the Rixos Hotel (the conference hotel) with spectacular views of the Adriatic Sea. It is strongly encouraged that all conference participants attend to interact with colleagues and meet new friends; snacks and drinks will be served. Participants and guests will also be able to retrieve conference badges. Feel free to stay for dinner in one of the several hotel restaurants, or walk to the near-by old town which offers many choices.

Tuesday, 24 May

For those interested in building more inclusive science at your home institution and across our discipline, join your colleagues in an informal evening event in the old town to share ideas and promote more inclusion and retention of women and underrepresented groups in the space sciences.

Wednesday, 25 May

This afternoon’s field trip will allow participants to see Dubrovnik from two new angles, while capturing amazing images and socializing with fellow attendees. First, for the angle above, we will take a cable car to the top of the near-by hill which offers superb aerial views of Dubrovnik and surroundings. At the top is a former fortress, built by Napoleon’s soldiers, which today houses a war museum illustrating the most recent local war conflicts. There will also be time to visit the museum. Then, after returning to the old harbor below, guests will board the Karaka ship, a replica of a traditional carrack of the Dubrovnik Republic, for a shoreline view. The ride will be along the city walls of Dubrovnik and around Lokrum Island. On the way back to the old harbor, be prepared for a wonderful sunset. While snacks and drinks will be served onboard, guets can walk directly from the old harbor into the old town for dinner.

Thursday, 26 May

The banquet dinner is scheduled for Thursday evening and will take place at the Klarisa Restaurant, located in the former monastery of St. Claire which dates back to the 13th century. The restaurant offers an exceptional experience in the heart of the old town, near the Great Onofrio Fountain. Live Klapa music will enhance the ambience. (Klapa is a “group of male friends” singing a capella and is part of the cultural heritage of Croatia.)

Saturday, 28 May

Dubrovnik, located at the southern tip of Croatia, is neighboring Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Both countries are only one hour away by bus. After the conference, two additional trips (each full day) are being hosted. The local organizing committee has taken both trips and can recommend both (but our first choice would be the Mostar trip). Click to learn more about these optional trips: